Sue Brandy, LCSW November 9, 2012.

* Stress is the body’s reaction to a change that requires a physical, mental or emotional adjustment or response. * Stress can come from any situation or thought that makes you feel frustrated, angry, nervous or anxious. * Stress is any uncomfortable “emotional experience accompanied by predictable biochemical, physiological and behavioral changes”.

BRAINSTEM (Reptilian brain) MOST PRIMAL Fight Flight Freeze Evolutionarily programmed to react, expect the worse, think about all the possible “what if’s”

LIMBIC SYSTEM (old mammalian brain) amygdalla hippocampos Evaluates current situation emotions relationships **Stimulates release of cortisol to put entire metabolism on high alert to meet stressful challenge

CORTEX (new mammalian brain) Allow us to think about thinking Location for ideas concepts insight empathy sense of self sense of senses ** Necessary for REGULATING brain stem & limbic system; MANAGING STRESS!

* Personal Stress - direct experience * Work * Family * Finances * Leisure * Health * Secondary Stress * What you see, hear, experience through someone else

* Cumulative Stress * Repeated exposure to same stressor * Multiple exposures to different stressors * Vicarious Stress * Continuous exposure that changes perception of the world * Critical Incident Stress * A strong emotional response to an unusual event

* A situation that is traumatic for the students/employees involved * Causes the student/employee to experience a stress reaction * May be different for each organization and each individual

* A number of interventions for dealing with traumatic events * Formal * Structured * Professionally recognized * Helps those involved in a critical incident to share their experiences, vent emotions, learn about stress reactions and symptoms * Confidential, voluntary, educative process * NOT therapy

* Proactive group intervention & discussion about a particularly distressing critical incident. * Helps employees understand their reactions to an incident. * A specific protocol ideally conducted within hours of the incident. NOT THERAPY! * (Management & “ Incident Command ” need debriefs as well)

* Promotes good will among employees * May strengthen employee loyalty * Increase in morale * Acceleration of return to work * Reduced workers compensation costs * Subsequent increase in productivity * Prevent emotional/mental health issues * Prevent negative coping strategies such as drinking and drug use * Improved image within community

* Physical Reactions * Cognitive Reactions * Emotional Reactions * Behavioral Reactions

* Fatigue * Elevated blood pressure * Rapid heartbeat * Headaches * Chest pain * Difficulty breathing * Grinding of teeth * Thirst * Visual difficulties * Profuse sweating * Nausea * Muscle Cramps * Twitches

* Poor problem solving * Poor attention * Poor decisions * Poor concentration * Hypervigilence * Memory problems * Heightened or lowered awareness * Blaming someone else * Nightmares * Loss of time, place, or person orientation

* Emotional outbursts * Anti-social acts * Increased alcohol & drug use * Change in activity * Change in speech patterns * Withdrawal * Startle reflex intensified * Change in sexual functioning * Erratic movement * Suspiciousness/paranoia * Pacing * Increase or decrease in appetite

* Anxiety * Severe Panic * Depression * Feeling overwhelmed * Intense Anger * Irritability * Guilt * Grief * Fear * Apprehension * Agitation * Uncertainty

* BREATHING * THOUGHT PROCESS (how you think about it) * BALANCE IN LIFE * Talk * Support * Exercise * Good eating habits * Hydrate * Vacation * Crying * Humor

* Neuroplasticity * Pull Weeds and Plant Flowers * Turn positive facts into positive experiences * Savor the experience * Change the Thought; Change the Brain * Lifts Mood * Increases Optimism * Increases Resilience * Increases Resourcefulness

Without understanding, our worries and thoughts create huge unnecessary problems. - My life has been filled with terrible misfortunes … most of which never happened.

* Buddha’s Brain by Rick Hanson, PhD * International Critical Incident Stress Management Foundation * Mindsight by Daniel Siegel,MD